They pay some federal taxes, but not all of them (looks like they pay payroll taxes but most don't pay federal income tax from my reading though that could be out of date). They also can avoid a lot of federal labor and other laws as well.

Okay - that's interesting.

I was basing this on what one person I know of there was. He and his social circle all paid fed personal income taxes. There seem to be quite a few variables as to what constitutes income from 'outside' vs 'inside' Puerto Rico. In their case - they all worked for the same company so that probably put them under the former umbrella.

Logged

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state. My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah. "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step? What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this. What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

Ah, that's a biggie. Of course, we know that 47% of those folks won't be paying income tax anyway.

I'm guessing the number will quite a bit higher than 47%.

Do they have a lot of seniors, military in combat zones, and billionaires with trusts?

Seriously though, I would expect the number of working poor to be higher in PR than in the 50 states due to my expectations of their economy and the fact that local cost of living isn't factored into our tax bracket.

Well, I am glad for Puerto Rico. I hope The Island joins the union some day soon.

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I live and work in the mainland. I try to visit as often as I can. It's a beautiful Island filled with fun politically educated people who enjoy a good time.

As for the electorate; Puertoricans are about 50/50 Republican/Democrat.

Although residents of Puerto Rico can't vote for presidency, they get drafted and fight for the American flag all the same as ordered by the commander in chief. So yes, I am glad the Islad has taken the first big step in hopes of joining the Union.

If I'm a conservative politician I insist on splitting California before letting in PR.

It isn't allowed. Besides that would just get 2 extra senate and electoral college votes for Democrats because there is no way to split California that makes geographic sense that would yield a Republican controlled state.

If I'm a conservative politician I insist on splitting California before letting in PR.

It isn't allowed. Besides that would just get 2 extra senate and electoral college votes for Democrats because there is no way to split California that makes geographic sense that would yield a Republican controlled state.

If I'm a conservative politician I insist on splitting California before letting in PR.

It isn't allowed. Besides that would just get 2 extra senate and electoral college votes for Democrats because there is no way to split California that makes geographic sense that would yield a Republican controlled state.

Can we just swap PR for CA then?

California had more people vote Republican then every state except Florida and Texas and that might actually change since much of California still isn't in (while most of Florida and Texas are).

The answer is simply just not making the states winner take and all and doing it like Nebraska does i.e. by district with the popular vote winner getting the two extra electoral college votes

If I'm a conservative politician I insist on splitting California before letting in PR.

It isn't allowed. Besides that would just get 2 extra senate and electoral college votes for Democrats because there is no way to split California that makes geographic sense that would yield a Republican controlled state.

Can we just swap PR for CA then?

Or Texas. Deporting Perry would be such a boon. Clowns like that made me able to take Arnold seriously as a politician.

Though it would be sad to lose the music scene in Austin.

As an original New Yorker, I would be glad to become a separate state. If the blue northeast separated, I'm pretty sure the northeast has the easier road ahead once disconnected from so many states that haven't pulled their weight for a long time.

This whole tangent is questionable. Just using the PR issue as a reason to mention our partisanship.

If I'm a conservative politician I insist on splitting California before letting in PR.

It isn't allowed. Besides that would just get 2 extra senate and electoral college votes for Democrats because there is no way to split California that makes geographic sense that would yield a Republican controlled state.

Can we just swap PR for CA then?

Or Texas. Deporting Perry would be such a boon. Clowns like that made me able to take Arnold seriously as a politician.

Though it would be sad to lose the music scene in Austin.

As an original New Yorker, I would be glad to become a separate state. If the blue northeast separated, I'm pretty sure the northeast has the easier road ahead once disconnected from so many states that haven't pulled their weight for a long time.

This whole tangent is questionable. Just using the PR issue as a reason to mention our partisanship.

New york is such a funny state politically. Its a huge geographic state obviously and when you get out of NYC so much of it is republican.

Being in Ithaca for 4 years it was funny because Ithaca itself was very liberal but if you went 5 minutes outside the city in any direction you were surrounded by nothing but republican political signage